- This led to the killing of at least 15 people and injured more than 80 others.
- Of the 15 people killed in the attack, 12 were Kenyans, three were Israeli tourists.
Exactly 20 years after the two-pronged terrorist attack on an Israeli-owned hotel in Mtwapa, Kilifi County, and an Arkia Airlines plane, security agencies are not leaving anything to chance.
The agencies have come up with different measures to address increased threats from terrorists.
These included enhanced sharing of intelligence reports on the same, more training on security agencies and bringing of new laws to tame the trend.
November 28, 2022 marks 20 years since the terrorists used an all-terrain vehicle and crashed through a barrier outside the Paradise Hotel and blew up the facility.
A suicide bomber detonated explosives while two others drove past the barrier and crashed into the hotel's reception desk, detonating an explosives-laden car.
This led to the killing of at least 15 people and injured more than 80 others.
Of the 15 people killed in the attack, 12 were Kenyans while the rest were Israeli tourists.
The Kenyans were members of a troupe performing a welcome dance for the arriving guests.
Victims of the attack and their families have been converging at the deserted hotel to pray for the souls of their departed relatives.
The attack came four years after the 1998 US Embassy bomb attack.
In the embassy attack, 201 Kenyans and 12 Americans were killed; 4,000 people were injured.
It prompted the government to employ various tactics to address the menace.
Still, the attackers came back years later and in a different form to strike in Kenya killing and disrupting many lives amid operations to stop their plans.
Officials say they have disrupted tens of similar plans that has made Kenya safer.
"We don't sleep and our efforts have made this country safer. We have disrupted dozens of planned attacks," said a senior security official managing anti-terror operations who asked not to be named.
The Kikambala attack ushered in a gradual decline in the facility's appeal to the international tourists who called the hotel their second home.
Security officials say they are aware some remnants of those behind the attack may try to mark the day in a different way and have been making efforts to stop the same.
Even though they plan to mark the day with nil or low activities, vigilance remains higher.
“We are still on alert especially in the Coast where they are making attempts daily. And the day being an anniversary of a major attack is key and hence the need for continued vigilance,” said the official aware of the plans.
He added there may be enhanced operations in some areas in the Coast and North Eastern to disrupt any planned activities.
The attack was a major setback for hotels on the Coast as most tourists avoided the region. This was further aggravated by travel advisories issued by Western countries to their nationals. That sealed the facility's fate.
Paradise was one of the Israeli-owned facilities that tapped into the Kenyan tourism business before the waves of terror attacks.
The country offered a perfect tourism opportunity for foreign investors but insecurity brought about by terror attacks have pushed many out of business.
Israel's Arkia Airlines, which used to bring tourists to the Coast, stopped flying the Mombasa route after an attempted missile attack by Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists on the same day as the hotel attack.
The plane, carrying 250 passengers and 10 crewmembers, had taken off from Mombasa's Moi International Airport when the terrorists fired the missile. It missed its target.
Before the attack, the hotel used to boast more than 100,000 annual international tourists. November is a peak season for the tourism sector in Coast.
On that day, as a group of 230 guests were leaving the hotel, another 250 tourists were checking in. All the guests were Israelis.
At the gate, a troupe of Girima dancers were dancing to bid goodbye to outgoing guests and welcome the incoming ones. Most of the incoming tourists had already been ushered into the waiting lounge at the reception but a small group had joined the traditional dancers.
It was then that the attack took place.
Officials say the Kikambala bombing marked the first time the industry experienced serious external shocks and has never fully recovered.
On December 8 2002 Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack.
The UN Security Council condemned the attack.